Improved trace-fastener



e UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

D. H. CLOCK AND F. D. RYAN, OF NEWVILLE, INDIANA.

IIVIPROVED TRACE-FASTENER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 51,425, dated December12, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, D. H. CLOCK and F. D. RYAN, of Newville, in thecounty of De Kalb and State of Indiana, have invented a new and ImprovedTrace-Fastener and we do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled inthe art to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The present invention relates to a fastening for traces to thehanie-tugs of harnesses, the object of which is to enable the trace tobe adjusted in length at pleasure; and itconsists in attaching to theend of the trace and extending in the direction of its length a flatmetallic plate, having at or near its outer end and upon one of its flatsurfaces or faces, a projectin g prong or tongue, which is first engagedwith the proper aperture of a series of apertures made in the haine-tug,according to the length of trace desired, when over said traceplate andincasing it and the hame-tug is then slid a clasp or sleeve having aspringtooth or prong, which, then engaging itself with an aperture inthe said plate, tirrnlyhold the same in place in connection withitsprong, interlocked with the haine-tug, as described.

In accompanying plate of drawings ourimproved trace-fastener isillustrated, Figure 1 being a side view of the trace and its fastening;Fig. 2,2. central section taken in the line of the plane a: cc, Fig. 1.

a a in the drawings represent the hanie-tug, which is secured to thehaine at its end b by any of the usual means, and has for its wholelength a series of apertures, c c, at any desired distance apart, butnot so close as to weaken the tug d, the trace-strap, in one end,f, ofwhich is secured, by rivets or in any other proper manner, a flatmetallic plate, g, projecting beyond its end, which plate is provided atits outer end, and upon its face or surface in contact with thellame-tug, with a prong' or tongue, h, which is interlocked with oneofthe haine-apertures, according to the length of trace desired.

Over the trace-plate, and incasing it and the corresponding portion ofthe haine-tug, is a metallic clasp or sleeve, l, made of the propershape therefor, which clasp has a spring tooth ortongue, m, at or nearits outer end, engaging with the aperture n in the corresponding portionof the traceplate.

Vhen the spring-tooth is interlocked with the trace-plate, and itstongue,in turn, inserted in the proper aperture of the hanne-tug, it isobvious that the trace will thus be firmly held in position. and to thehaine-tug. To loosen the trace, or, in other Words, to unfasten it, pullthe spring-tooth m from its plate, then slide the clasp back sufficient]y to uncover' the said plate, thus leaving it free to have its tonguedisengaged from the haine-tug, when, niovlng the trace forward orbackward upon the tug, according to the length desired, its plate-tongueis then secured as before.

O is a guide hung in the outer end of the hame-tug for the trace-strap.

Ve claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The iixedpronged metallic plate g, interlocking With haine-tug, in combinationwith the sliding clasp l, having spring-tongue m,

arranged together and operating aS and for the purpose specified.

The above specication of our invention signed by us this 25th day ofSeptember, 1865.

D.,H. CLOCK.

F. D. RYAN. Witnesses:

W. G. MoGoNrGAL, AARON W. ALLEN.

